ProLast reviewed 3 June 2026 · 3 min read

Chimney sweep troubleshooting and FAQ

The "it did not do what I expected" moments for chimney sweeps in TradeBooked, with a fix for each, plus the questions that come up on first use.

In a hurry? Quick steps

Smoke-evac fail: record it honestly, set safe-to-use to no, follow up with the customer
No signal in basement: the builder works offline; drafts queue and sync when you are back in range
Landlord wants cc: add their email at issue; the cert PDF goes to both addresses
Need to correct an issued cert: issue a new one; the old stays as the record

Troubleshooting

The common edge cases for running real sweep jobs through TradeBooked, with what each one means and how to handle it.

The smoke-evacuation test failed

Record it honestly on the cert: set the test result to Fail, write the observation in the defects and the recommendations, and set safe-to-use to no. Issue the cert as normal; the failed test is part of the customer's record.

TradeBooked never overrides your finding. A failed test is what you saw; the cert records it.

No signal in the basement

The sweep record builder works offline. Drafts autosave locally and queue safely. When you are back in range, the queued cert syncs and can be issued. The customer does not see anything until issue.

Multi-flue properties

Add one flue per chimney in the sweep record. Each flue carries its own appliance, fuel, construction, tests and next-due. On the cert PDF they appear in order; on the flue register each becomes its own chimney record.

A landlord or agent wants a copy

At issue, add the landlord or managing agent email under multi-recipient distribution. The cert PDF is sent to both the customer and the additional recipient.

I made a mistake on an issued cert

Issued certs are locked. Issue a fresh cert with the correction and note the change in the recommendations. The original stays as the audit record. There is no edit-in-place by design.

A customer wants the cert by post

Email-and-print is the default. If a customer specifically asks for a posted cert (older customers without email, an insurance file requiring a hard copy), download the cert PDF from the booking and post it. A built-in posted-cert option is on the roadmap.

The fuel-aware default looks wrong

Override Next-due on the chimney record. The default reflects trade-body recommendations for a typical case; your direct knowledge of the appliance wins. Common reasons to override include a hard-burned wood-burner, a holiday let with seasonal use, or a customer who wants more frequent visits for peace of mind.

Common questions

Do customers need a TradeBooked account?

No. They book through your /book page, receive the cert by email, and get reminder emails when their next sweep is due. No account, no login, no app.

What if the customer and the property owner are different people?

Set the customer as the booker (whoever you take payment from) and add the landlord or managing agent at cert issue. The PDF reaches both.

Can I bill the sweep automatically?

For one-off sweeps, you invoice from the booking as normal (see "Send invoices and job sheets"). For recurring service plans, use GoCardless Direct Debit (see "Take Direct Debit with GoCardless").

Where does the cert number come from?

TradeBooked assigns a sequential CSW-XXXXXX cert number on issue, scoped to your business. It is unique across your account and stays on the issued PDF and the audit trail.

Can I delete a chimney record?

You can remove a chimney from a customer record (e.g. they moved house or had it taken out). Past certs against that chimney stay on the booking and customer record indefinitely.

What plan do I need?

The chimney-sweep tools (certs, flue register, fuel-aware rebook, clone-last, insurance pack) are on the Pro and Autopilot plans. Booking and invoicing basics are on every plan.